Leica M handgrip design
A passage about the design of the grip shape itself....
I am so glad that IDSworks handgrip have receive much attention in the market with all of your support. I really appreciate you kindness on making this project a success!
Many have told me they love the battery door and the SD card storage on the IDSworks M10 handgrip so much, providing them flexibility during photo trips. Many have also told me that the trigger / coupling mechanism on the M11 handgrip is how it should be designed and the full cover ease their concerns regarding the exposed USB port.
I'am glad that these appearent design brought to your advantages. However, I would like to say all these functions are just added value to the product (bells and whistles to be honest) but not the core. There were too little to be mentioned about the shape and the form of the grip itself which I would like to emphasis here.
As you all know recently I am replacing all my previous users grip pad to the new patent shape for free. There is a good reason for that as I think the shape of the grip shape should be the center of the attention.
"The most comfortable camera handgrip is the one that you hardly notice it's there when they are in your hand"
About the development of the new patent grip shape
Let's look at how one holds a camera without the grip...
For most 135mm format cameras on the market, be it range finders, SLR or modern mirriorless cameras, the shutter buttom is always on the top of the camera (Unless you are using a camera like the ALPA 11E, with the shutter button on the front).
As a result of that, the most natural way of holding the camera is to place your index finger on top, thumb supporting the back and the reminning fingers follows a 45 degree downward wrapping the side of the camera.
This natual hand position is the most comfortable way of holding a camera, but it also create fatigue when the lens gets heavy and when the camera becomes front heavy. Your hand just wasn't designed to 'clamp' on a body that's only 3cm thick.
I would like you to pay some attention on the grip shape that IDSworks designed for Leica M cameras.
3 dimentional changing top curviture
Angled slope on the left, Blanding curve with the camera on the right
Angled Slope:
This slope allows just right landing space for your forth and fifth finger to gently holds the grip without feeling any sharp edges. The bland in curves on the right allows your hand to wrap around the camera more natually as well.
When you place your index finger on the shutter you middle fingle will natually place closer to the camera body than your forth and fifth finger. The 3D curviture on top give you a natural placement of your middle finger. In reality... you can hardly feel the grip is even there. There is also a good reason to hold it this way as the weight of the camera actually sit on your palm and not on the fingers. This will allow your to hold the camera at slower shutter speed and off load your fatigue when you hold your camera up to your eye.
Shooting clandestinely and vertially
During the development of this grip shape I have talk to some street photographer about shooting clandestinely on the street. I've realized many, when shooting clandestinely by zone focusing, often just choose to shoot horizontally because it is much easier for them to get the horizontal right instead of vertical.
With this newly design grip shape it helps a photographer to do just that as long as you know how to point your finger downward right!
When holding the camera like this while trigger the shutter with the thrid joint of your index finger, it is much easier for you to shot vertical without looking through the view finder.
I wish this passage helps all my product users to utilized the product better and to your advantages!